Objective: The primary objective of this review
is to evaluate the strategies used to improve patient compliance
with antipsychotic medication in the treatment of schizophrenia.

Data Sources: An electronic literature search of
relevant studies using MEDLINE and the Cochrane Library (January
1974-December 2002) was performed using the search terms adherence, antipsychotic, atypical, compliance, conventional,
and schizophrenia.

Study Selection: English-language and
non-English-language articles, references from bibliographies of
reviews, original research articles, and other articles of
interest were reviewed.

Data Extraction: Data quality was determined by
publication in the peer-reviewed literature and the most
important information was identified.

Data Synthesis: Atypical antipsychotics are
associated with an improved side-effect profile and reduced risk
of relapse compared with the older agents. Additional benefit may
be provided by long-acting injectable formulations as they
provide the confidence of continuous medication coverage.

Conclusions: Successful treatment of patients
with schizophrenia requires acknowledgment that partial
compliance will present a major barrier to achieving maximum
outcomes. Ideally, all patients suspected of partial compliance
should be considered suitable for treatment with a long-acting
injectable atypical antipsychotic.